Automatic transfer means for off-bearing assembly



4 June 12, 1962 A. H. BECKLEY 3,038,585

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FOR OFF-BEARING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. ARTHUR H. BECKLEY ATTORNEY:

June 12, 1962 I A. H. BECKLEY 3,033,585

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FOR OFF-BEARING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug. 19, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 2 n H u h h ll] I II I:

June 12, 1962 Q A. H. BECKLEY 3,038,585

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FOR OFF-BEARING ASSEMBLY Filed Aug 19, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 3 JVENR. ARTHUR H. BECKLEY ATTORNEY June 12, 1962 A. H.BECKLEY 3,038,585

AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FOR OFF-BEARING ASSEMBLY INVENTOR. ARTHUR H.BECKLEY Patented June 12, 1962' 3,038,585 AUTOMATIC TRANSFER MEANS FUROFF-BEARHJG ASSEMBLY Arthur H. Beckley, Portland, Greg, assignor toMoore Dry Kiln Company, North Portland, Greg, a corporation of OregonFiled Aug. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 50,709 7 Claims. (Cl. 19832) Thisinvention relates to the handling of sheets of material required to betransferred individually and consecutively from a multiple deck supplysource onto a single conveyor.

The present invention, like the invention described in my pendingapplication for U8. patent Serial No. 853,- 285, filed under date ofNovember 16, 1959, entitled Automatic Oil-Bearing Assembly for Dryers,relates in particular to the automatic transfer of sheets of veneer,received from a multiple deck dryer and cooler, and from a correspondingmultiple deck off-bearing assembly, onto a single continouus conveyor;and this application is a continuation-in-part of the previousapplication Serial No. 853,285 to which reference is made.

In the device of the previous application the sheets are transferredconsecutively from the consecutive decks of the multiple deckoff-bearing assembly onto a tipple which in turn delivers the sheetsconsecutively to the single final endless conveyor, the transfer of thesheets from the various decks of the off-bearing assembly onto thetipple requiring separate control means, including pinch wheels andoperating mechanism and controls therefor, mounted on the dischargingend of each deck of the ofi-bean'ng assembly. A particular object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved and simplified controlsystem and means in which only a single set of pinch wheels, mounted onthe receiving end of the tipple, will be required, and in which acorresponding single set of controls, also carried on the tipple, willtake the place of the plurality of separate controls described for thedevice in the previous application.

A related object is to provide an improved transfer means, especiallyadapted for use with sheets of veneer delivered from a multiple deckdryer and cooler, which will function automatically to transfer thesheets in consecutive order, which will be readily adjustable foroperation under various circumstances, and which will not be extensivelycomplicated in construction or troublesome in maintenance.

The manner in which and the means by which these particular objects andother advantages are attained in the present invention will be explainedand described briefly in the following specification with reference tothe accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is a foreshortened diagrammatic side illustration of a multipledeck off-bearing section together with a connected end of the multipledeck dryer and cooler, indicating in broken lines the driving means forthe feeder rolls in the off-bearing section and showing in part theconnection with the driving feed rolls of the dryer and cooler throughthe medium of which a master control is provided for the operation ofthe oil-bearing section and tipple;

FIG. 1B is a continuation of FIG. 1A and is an elevation, partlydiagrammatic, of the transfer tipple by which the sheets are transferredfrom the consecutive decks of the off-bearing section to the endlessconveyor, a portion of the latter being shown on the right and a portionof the discharging end of the off-bearing section being shown on theleft, the tipple being shown in its highest position for receivinga-sheet or sheets from the top deck of the off-bearing section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1B, butdrawn to a larger scale;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the line indicated at 33 ofFIG. 2 and corresponding in part to FIG. 1B, but showing the tipple justbefore it has reached its highest position; v

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 44 of FIG. 2, the tipple beingshown in highest position and receiving a sheet from the top deck of theoff-bearing section, the sheet being omitted for clarity but its coursebeing indicated by the line S;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partial elevation and partial section on line5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view on line 6-6 of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section on line 7-7 of FIG. 6 drawn to a largerscale; and

FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic wiring diagram to illustrate the mannerin which the operation of the device is controlled and synchronized.

Referring first to FIG. 1A, the reference 10 indicates the dischargingend of a six deck dryer and cooler, the decks of which dischargerespectively onto the corresponding decks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 ofthe six deck off-bearing section indicated in general by the referencecharacter 11. Each deck of the dryer and cooler 10 is provided withdriven feed rolls, indicated by the broken lines 18, these feed rollsbeing driven in unison by suitable means (not shown) with adjustablecontrol (not shown) as is customary, in order that the speed of thepassage of the veneer sheets through the dryer and cooler may beadjusted as desired according to circumstances. The speed of operationof the tipple or transfer means later described is governed by the speedof operation of the dryer and cooler, as will be hereinafter explained.

Each deck of the off-bearing section 11 is provided with driven feedrolls 19 which are connected by drive chains 20. The fast or end feedrolls 19 on each deck of the off-bearing section are in turn connectedtogether by'a series of drive chains 21. A drive sprocket 22 for the endfeed roll on the bottom deck is connected by an endless drive chain 23with a motor M1.

A stop fence, indicated in general by the reference character 24 (FIGS.1A and 2) is mounted at the discharging end of each deck of theoff-bearing section 11. These stop fences, described later, are held innormal or closed position by springs. As each sheet reaches thedischarging end of a deck of the off-bearing section it is temporarilyrestrained by the respective stop fence until the fence is momentarilyraised against the. force of its springs by the transfer tipple ashereinafter described.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the tipple 25 includes a frame 26 which ispivotally supported at its discharge end on a supporting structure 27and is swingable up and down on a horizontal axis. The tipple frame 26is also supported at each side on a pair of identical hydraulic pistonsand piston rods, one of these piston rods 28 and its hydraulic cylinder29 being shown in FIG. 1B. The top end of each piston rod is pivotallyconnected to a bracket 30 secured on the corresponding side of thetipple frame, and the hydraulic cylinder is pivotally mounted on a basesupport 31.

The pair of hydraulic pistons at the opposite sides of the tipple frameare operated in unison, the hydraulic fluid for the operation beingdelivered into an withdrawn from opposite ends of the hydrauliccylinders through conduits under the control of suitablesolenoid-operated valves and the conduits being connected with a pumpassembly (not shown) operated by the motor M2. The

pump, valves and controls for this hydraulic assembly are of well knowndesign and need not be described in detail since they do not constitutepart of the present invention. The entire hydraulic assembly is soarranged and so controlled by automatic switch means that the hydraulicpistons move the tipple from its lowest position (in registration withthe bottom deck 12 of the olfbearing section 11) to its highest position(in registration with the top deck 17 of the off-bearing section) in aseries of five moves occurring during equal periods of time, and thenreturn the receiving end of the tipple from its highest to its lowestposition quickly during a single equal period of time. The delivery ofsheets of veneer from the respective decks of the off-bearing section 11occurs during the upward travel of the tipple only.

In order to maintain the up and down movement of the tipple exactly thesame at both sides of the tipple, and thus to prevent any slight tippingof the tipple towards one side or the other, which might be occasionedby a tendency for one hydraulic piston to move at a slightly differentspeed from the other or to move over a slightly different distance, apair of identical rack bars, one of which is shown at 32 in FIG. 1B, arepivotally mounted at opposite sides of the tipple frame respectively.Each rack bar moves through a guideway 33 attached to the tipple framewhere it is held in constant engagement with a pinion 34. The twopinions 34 for the two rack bars respectively are identical and areconnected to a common shaft which is rotatably supported in the pair ofguideways.

The tipple is provided with a series of feed rolls 35 (FIG. 1B) andthese feed rolls are connected by drive chains 36 and driven in unisonby driving connection with a motor M3, the first feed roll on thereceiving end of the tipple being indicated by the special reference 35'for convenience. Pivotally supported press rolls 37 are arranged so asto rest on some of these feed rolls 35 and thus to bear on the veneersheets which move along over the feed rolls 35 in order to keep theveneer sheets on the tipple moving at the desired speed for which themotor M3 is set. The pivotally mounted or discharging end of the tipple(thus the right hand end as viewed in FIG. 1B) discharges onto anendless travelling conveyor indicated at part at 38 in FIG. 1B.

A series of identical, transversely arranged, pinch wheels 39 (FIGS. 1B,2, 3, 4, and are carried on the receiving end of the tipple '25 for thepurpose of bearing down on the first feed roll 35' on the tipple inorder to cause a veneer sheet, when discharged from the deck of theoff-bearing section 11 onto the tipple, to be gripped and movedforwardly on the tipple. A shaft 40 has its journal end portionsrotatably mounted respectively in a pair of plates 41 carried atopposite sides of the tipple frame 26, one of these plates 41 beingshown in FIGS. 1B, 2 and 3, and the other being shown in FIG. 4. Pairsof parallel brackets 42 are carried on the shaft 40 in transversealignment. A pinch wheel carriage 43 is pivotally mounted at one end ona pin 44 carried by each pair of brackets 42. A lower pin 45 limits thedownward swing of the carriage 43 with respect to its pair of supportingbrackets. A pinch wheel 35' is rotatably supported in the opposite orfree end of the carriage 43. A bar 46 extends upwardly from the middleof the pin 45 through an aperture in the cross web (indicated in brokenlines at 47 in FIG. 4). The upper end of this bar is threaded andcarries an adjustable nut, and a coil spring 48 is carried on this barand is held under compression between the cross web and the nut. Thesepinch wheel assemblies are the same as those described in more detail inthe application Serial No. 853,285 previously referred to.

A member 49 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is rigidly secured on the reduced journalend portion of the shaft 40 beyond the side plate 41. An arm 50,extending from member 49, is pivotally connected at its outer end to thepiston rod 51 of the piston in an air cylinder 52, which air cylinder ispivotally supported on the side of the tipple frame 26. Thus, asapparent, movement of the piston in one direction (upwardly) in the aircylinder 52 causes the pinch wheels 39 to be lowered from the normalraised inoperative position, indicated in FIG. 3, to the loweredengaging position indicated in FIGS. 1B and 4, for the purpose ofengaging a veneer sheet as such sheet is received on the tipple, whilemovement of the air piston in the reverse direction returns the pinchwheels to their normal raised inoperative position.

A stop fence 53 (FIG. 2) is mounted on the tipple and extendstransversely, being positioned a short distance inwardly on thereceiving end of the tipple from the first feed roll 35'. This stopfence comprises a fence shaft 54, the reduced journal ends of which arealso mounted in the side plates 41 on the tipple frame, and an elongatednarrow flange plate or stop fence 54 which is secured to the shaft 54. Asecond arm 55, extending from the member 49 (FIGS. 1B and 3), carries apin which engages a slot in an arm secured to the end of the fence shaftfor the stop fence 53. Thus movement of the piston in air cylinder 52operates the stop fence 53 simultaneously with the operation of thepinch wheels 39, the arrangement being such that when the pinch wheelsare in raised position the stop fence will be in lowered blockingposition, and when the pinch wheels are lowered as indicated in FIG. 4,the stop fence will be raised in order to permit the veneer sheet orsheets, engaged by the pinch wheels, to proceed forwardly on the tipple.Frequently two or more sheets of veneer will be received side by side ona deck of the off-bearing section, and as these are delivered onto thereceiving end of the tipple one sheet may be slightly ahead of the otheror others. However the stop fence 53 on the tipple, by restraining themovement of the sheets from the deck of the off-bearing sectionmomentarily until the pinch wheels are lowered, will cause them tobecome lined up evenly on the tipple and consequently to be deliveredonto the final endless conveyor 38 in proper arrangement.

A corresponding arrangement (not shown) of air cylinder, piston, andconnecting operating arms for the shaft 40 for the pinch wheels and alsofor the shaft 54 for the stop fence, is provided on the opposite side ofthe tipple frame. The activation of the two air cylinders is controlledby a solenoid-operated valve, as later explained.

The stop fence 24, positioned at the discharging end of each deck of theoff-bearing section 11, is similar to the stop fence 53 on the tipple.The stop fence for each of the decks on the off-bearing section, withthe exception of the bottom deck, that is to say, for the decks 13, 14,15, 16 and 17 (FIGS. 1A and 1B) has an arm 56 at each end which isnormally held by a coil spring 57 against the bottom stop 58 (see FIG.3), causing the stop fence to be held in a normal lowered blockingposition. Means, carried by the tipple, as presently explained, is soarranged as to engage the arms 56 for each stop fence momentarily as thetipple moves upwardly into registration with that deck.

An operating arm 59 (FIGS. 1B, 2, 3 and 5) is pivotally mounted at eachside of the receiving end of the tipple on a bracket 60 secured to thetipple frame. Each arm 59 carries a roller 61 (shown best in FIGS. 3 and5) adapted for engagement with a stop fence arm 56 upon upward movementof the tipple when the operating arm 59 1S moved into the outer orengaging position, shown in full lines in FIG. 3. A piston shaft 62 isconnected to the arm 59 and the piston shaft is operated by a piston inan air cylinder 63 mounted on the tipple. Activation of the air cylinder63 is controlled by a solenoidoperated valve, as later explained. Thisarrangement is such that, when the tipple, during its upward travel,moves from one deck to the next higher deck, the arm 59 will beautomatically moved to the outward engaging position momentarily inorder to engage the arm 56 of the stop fence on the deck with which thetipple is being brought into registration. When the tipple starts tomove out of registration with the deck, or whenever the tipple is movingin a downward direction, this arm 59 will be held in inoperativeposition (that is to say, will be moved to the right, or clockwise, asviewed in FIG. 3), so as to be out of engaging position.

The stop fence 24 for the bottom deck 12 of the offbearing section 11(see FIGS. 1A and and 1B) is the same as the stop fences on the otherfive decks except that it is oppositely arranged and extends upwardlyinstead of downwardly when in closed position. Its shaft therefore islocated slightly below the top of the adjacent feed roll of theoff-bearing section instead of being located slightly above such roll asin the case of the stop fences for the other five decks. An arm 56 isconnected to each end of the shaft for this bottom stop fence, and acoil spring 57' is attached to each arm 56' to hold it normally upagainst a stop 58 and thus holding the bottom fence normally in theclosed position, but enabling the fence to be opened when the arms 56'are thrust downwardly against the force of their springs. Each sideplate 4-1 on the tipple has a projecting portion 64 (FIG. 3) whichcarries a roller positioned to engage the arm 56 when the tipple reachesits lowest position. Thus, as the tipple moves into its lowest positionand into registration with the bottom deck 12 of the off-bearing section11, the arms 56 are engaged and are pushed downwardly and cause the stopfence on the deck 12 to open.

In this way, as the tipple reaches its lowest position, the stop fenceon the bottom deck 12 of the off-bearing section is raised, allowing thesheet or sheets at the discharging end of this deck to pass onto thetipple up to the stop fence on the tipple. Then, as the pinch wheels onthe tipple are lowered to engage the sheet or sheets as they arereceived, the stop fence on the tipple is also raised and the sheet orsheets are caused to proceed on their course on the tipple. After amomentary predetermined time delay the tipple then starts movingupwardly, the pinch wheels having been raised on the tipple and the stopfence having been lowered on the tipple to normal position. Now as thetipple moves upwardly the arms 59 on the tipple are moved into outwardposition to engage the fence arms 56 for the stop fence on the next deck13 of the off-bearing section, so that by the time the tipple is inregistration with the next deck 13 the stop fence on that deck has beenraised. At this point the lowering of the pinch wheels and the raisingof the stop fence on the tipple again takes place as before.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A, 6 and 7, a housing 65 is mounted on one sideof the off-bearing section 11 and contains an adjustable gear drivewhich is driven by drive chain connections 66 and 67 from one of thedrive feed rolls 18 on the dryer and cooler 10. A shaft 69 (FIGS. 6 and7), rotated through the intermediary of the adjustable gear drive in thehousing 65, carries a pair of cam discs 70 and 71, each of which has sixequally spaced cam lobes (corresponding to the number of decks in theoif-bearing section), which lobes engage a contact element 72 or 73respectively upon the rotation of the cam discs. The discs are soarranged that their cam lobes are staggered with respect to each other.When the contact element 73 for the cam disc 71, for example, isconnected through a suitable timed delay relay with the relays andsolenoids for the hydraulic valves controlling the movements of thetipple, and also with the relays for the circuits controlling theactuation of the air cylinders on the tipple for the pinch wheels andstop fence, and for the air cylinders for the arms 59, the successiveengagement of the contact element 73 by the six cam lobes on the disc'71 during one revolution of the disc 71 will complete one cycle ofoperation of the device, for the entire six decks of the off-bearingsection, with the proper timing for veneer sheets of a particularlength, thus, for sheets of the customary length of eight feet. However,if veneer sheets having a length of only four feet are to 6 be handledin the device, then the contact element 72 for the other disc is alsoconnected into the same circuits, and, since the cam lobes on the twodiscs 71 and 70 are staggered with respect to each other, the connectingof the contact 72 as well as the contact '73 into the operating circuitsand the adjusment of the time delay relay will double the speed ofoperation of the device, thus enabling the device to operate with fullefficiency for four foot veneer sheets. Furthermore, by adjusting thehand wheel 74 (FIG. 6) of the ratio adjustment of the adjustable geardrive for the shaft 69, intermediate and further variations in thetiming periods and thu in the speed of operation of the device areattainable to correspond to other lengths of veneer sheets, should theveneer sheets which are being put through the dryer and cooler be ofsome other length.

A bar 84 (FIG. 1B), attached to the frame 26 of the tipple 25, supportsa carriage 83 which slides up and down in a guideway 85 with the up anddown movement of the tipple. The carriage 83 has a member 83 whichengages actuating elements for switch assemblies arranged in asuccession of six switch boxes 74, 75, 76, 77, 78 and 79, which are sopositioned that the travel of the moving or receiving end of the tippleintermittently from the lowest deck 12 to the top deck 17 (FIG. 1A) ofthe off-bearing section 11 will cause the switch assemblies to beengaged respectively. The controlled movement of the tipple 25 is suchthat when, for example, the tipple reaches its highest position, asillustrated in FIG. 1B, thus receiving the veneer sheet or sheets fromthe top deck 17 of the off-bearing section 11, the member 83' will be inengagement with the actuating element for the top switch box 79. Thetipple then remains in this position for a predetermined period of timeduring which the stop fence for the discharging end of the top deck 17of the off-bearing section is raised, the pinch wheels on the tipple arelowered, and the stop fence on the tipple is raised. Such period of timeis sufficient to allow the sheet or sheets of veneer from the end of thedeck 17 to be discharged onto the tipple. Then the tipple moves quicklydown to the'lowest deck of the off-bearing section during the samepredetermined period, required for moving upwardly from one deck to thenext, and remains at the lowest deck 12 for the same period with themember 83 then engaging the actuating element in the switch box 74.Thereupon the tipple starts its intermittent upward movement. Thedownward movement of the tipple in the device illustrated accordingly isfive times as fast as each intermittent upward movement.

Each of the switch boxes 74 to 79 inclusive, as indicated in FIG. 8 tobe referred to presently, contain a pair of switches 74A and 74B, 75Aand 75B, 76A and 76B, 77A and 77B, 78A and 78B, and 79A and 7913. Theswitches 74A 79A are normally open but are closed when the contactmember 83' engages the actuating element for the respective switch box,and the switches 74B 79B are normally closed but are opened by suchengagement with the actuating element for the respective switch box.

The actuation of the solenoids for the hydraulic valves governing themovement of the tipple, the actuation of the solenoid for the air valvecontrolling the air cylinders and pistons which operate the pinch wheelsand stop fence on the tipple, and the solenoid for the air valvecontrolling the cylinders for operating the arms 59 on the tipple, andthe connected time delay elements, all function automatically inaccordance with the speed at which the entire device is set to operate,and the speed in turn is governed by such conditions as the speed of thedryer and cooler and the length of the veneer sheets being handled, aspreviously mentioned.

The manner in which the operations are coordinated and automaticallycontrolled can be explained briefly and more clearly with reference tothe schematic diagram of FIG. 8. In this schematic diagram allunimportant wiring 7 details have been omitted for the sake ofsimplicity and clarity.

In FIG. 8, in which L1 and L2 are the two power line conductors, thesolenoid for the hydraulic valve controlling the upward movement of thetipple is indicated at 96, the solenoid for the hydraulic valvecontrolling the downward movement of the tipple is indicated at 106, thesolenoid for the air valve controlling the operation of the cylindersfor the pinch wheels and stop fence on the tipple is indicated at 122,and the solenoid controlling the actuation of the cylinders foroperating the arms 59 on the tipple, which operate the stop fences onthe upper five decks of the off-bearing assembly 11, is indicated at123. The switch boxes 74, 75, 76, 77, '78, and 79 are indicated twice,once to show the normally open switches 74A 79A, and again to show thenormally closed switches in these boxes, 74B 79B. The switches 72' and73 are the switches for the contact elements 72 and 73 (FIG. 6) throughwhich contacts are intermittently made by the rotating cam discs 70 and71 (FIG. 6) previously mentioned. For the purpose of illustration it isfirst assumed that only eight foot veneer sheets are being put throughthe device. In such case switch 72 is not connected and the operation ofthe device is to be considered as controlled entirely through switch 73.

Let it be assumed that at the start, the tipple is in the lowestposition in registration with the bottom deck 12 of the off-bearingsection. Thus switch 74A will have been moved to closed position and theswitch 743 will have been moved to open position. The time switchcontacts 112 and 113 for the cam disc operated switch 73 are previouslymanually set and closed. Each time the switch 73 is closed (that is eachtime one of the lobes on the rotating cam disc 71 of FIG. 6 closes acontact), the time delay relay 86 is activated. Time delay relay 86 isarranged to close the time switch 87. The closing of time switch 87results in activating solenoid 122 through the closed switch 74A and theactivation of this solenoid 122 causes lowering of the pinch wheels andraising of the stop fence on the tipple. Time delay relay 86 alsomomentarily closes switch 88 activating time delay switch 89 throughnormally closed switch 98 (mentioned later) and through the manuallyclosed time switch contact 113 previously mentioned. Activation of timedelay switch 89 closes the holding switch 90, and it also closes switch91. The closing of switch 91 momentarily causes current to pass tocontrol relay 93 through the normally closed switch 92 (mentionedlater). Control relay 93 operates to close holding switch 94-. Controlrelay 93 also closes switch 95 and opens switch 98. The closing ofswitch 95 causes activation of solenoid 96 through normally closedswitch 107 (mentioned later). This results in upward movement of thetipple. Switch 95 and switch 92 are connected so that the momentaryclosing of switch 95 causes switch 92 to be opened. Since the switch 74Breturns to its normal closed position immediately the tipple startsmoving upwardly, the current to control relay 93 momentarily continuesand thus holds switch 95 closed and solenoid 96 remains activated withthe tipple moving upwardly. The closing of switch 95 activates timedelay relay 97 which holds switch 92 open. The activation of controlrelay 93 also opens switch 98 thereupon rendering time delay switch 89inactive, which opens switches 90 and 91 and causes switch 89 to bereset for the next cycle.

When the tipple reaches the second deck 13 of the offbearing section 11the switch 75B is opened and companion switch 75A is closed. The openingof switch 75B interrupts the circuit to control relay 93 which opensswitches 94 and 95 and allows switches 92 and 98 to close, anddeactivates solenoid 96, causing the tipple to stop its upward movement.The closing of the switch 75A again activates solenoid 122 for the pinchwheels and stop gate on the tipple. This cycle of switch operations isrepeated five times as the tipple moves upwardly in intermittentperiods, each cycle being caused by the closing of the switch 73 as aresult of the engagement of the cam lobes on the disc 71, as previouslymentioned.

The arms 59 on the tipple remain in outward engaging position all thetime the tipple is travelling upwardly, thus causing the stop gate oneach of the decks 13 to 17 of the oil-bearing section to be momentarilyopened as the tipple comes into registration with the respective deck.

When the tipple reaches the top deck it opens switch 79B and closesrelated switch 79A, the opening of switch 79B closes a connected switch79C which activates control relay 99. This relay 99 closes switch 101.The activation of control relay 93 through switch 92 as previouslydescribed, also closes switch 102, and, since switch 101 is now closedthe current relay 103 is activated. This relay 103 opens switch 107,closes switch 105, and closes the holding circuit switch 104. Theclosing of switch 105 activates solenoid 106 which produces downwardmovement of the tipple. The closing of switch 105 also closes switch 121which activates solenoid 123, and the activation of this solenoid causesthe arms 59 on the tipple to be retracted during the downward travel ofthe tipple. When the tipple reaches the bottom deck 12 the switch 74B isopened and the switch 74A is closed for the next cycle. Manual controlswitches are indicated at 108 and 120.

If four foot sheets are now to be handled in place of eight foot sheetsthe circuit will be closed through the switch 72 as well as through theswitch 73'. In other words, both disc 70 and 71 (FIG. 6) will govern thetime period cycle. In this case manual switch 72" is closed to enablethe closing of switch 72' by its disc to become effective. The timedelay relay switches 114 and 116 are also manually closed thus enablingtime delay relays and 117 to function in the same manner as the timedelay relays 86 and 39 previously mentioned. Now time delay relay 115operates to close switch 87 and switch 110, and time delay relay 117operates the holding switch 109 and switch 111. The operation throughoutthe cycle is as previously described, but since each cycle alternatelyby the closing of the contacts for both cam discs with their cam lobesstaggered, and thus by the alternate closing of switches 73 and 72', asillustrated in FIG. 8, the cycles take place twice as rapidly, andconsequently the entire device is speeded up so as to handle veneersheets of four feet in length instead of eight feet in length withsimilar efficiency.

As previously indicated, the cycles of operation can be varied furtherby adjusting the adjustable gear drive connection by which the discshaft 69 is driven from the driving rolls of the dryer and cooler. Thusthe entire device, including the off-bearing section 11 and the movingtipple for transferring the sheets can be adjustably set to operateautomatically at the speed desired with respect to the speed of thedryer and cooler and to correspond to the length of the veneer sheetsbeing handled, and the sheets will be delivered at the desired rate,separately and consecutively, onto the continuous moving conveyorindicated at 38 in FIG. 1B.

While the device has been illustrated and described for use with a sixdeck dryer and cooler, and correspondingly with an cit-bearing sectionhaving six decks, this device can easily be arranged for operation withany number of decks, especially since only one set of pinch rolls andone stop fence on the moving tipple are required regardless of thenumber of decks served by the tipple.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described for handling and transferringsheets of material, including a multiple deck dryer and cooler havingdriven feed rolls and a multiple deck off-bearing assembly, a conveyortipple having a receiving end movable into registry with the dischargingends of the decks of the off-bearing assembly, means for moving saidreceiving end of said tipple up and down intermittently and for bringingsaid tipple end into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, 1 a control assembly automatically governing theoperation of said means, said control assembly connected with andactuated by the driven feed rolls on the dryer and cooler, whereby theoperation of said tipple is automatically governed with respect to thespeed of operation of said dryer and cooler, a stop fence at thedischarging end of each deck of said off-bearing assembly, said fencesin normal blocking position restraining the discharge of sheets fromtheir respective decks, an engageable operating member connected witheach fence for moving the fence into inoperative releasing position, andcooperating elements on said receiving end of said tipple for engagingsaid operating members respectively and moving said fences intoreleasing position as said receiving end of said tipple is brought intoregistration with said decks of said off-bearing assembly respectively.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 with each of said stop fencescomprising a rotatable shaft having a longitudinally-extending flange,the stop fence being in operative blocking position when said flange issubstantially vertical, and spring means connected with each stop fencenormally holding the fence in such operative position.

3. In a device of the character descrlibed for handling and transferringsheets of material, including a multiple deck dryer and cooler havingdriven feed rolls and a multiple deck off-bearing assembly, a conveyortipple having a receiving end movable into registry with the dischargingends of the decks of the off-bearing assembly, means for moving saidreceiving end of said tipple up and down intermittently and for bringingsaid tipple end into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, a control assembly automatically governing theoperation of said means, said control assembly connected with andactuated by the driven feed rolls on the dryer and cooler, whereby theoperation of said tipple is automatically governed with respect to thespeed of operation of said dryer and cooler, a stop fence at thedischarge end of each deck of said off-bearing assembly, said fences innormal blocking position restraining the discharge of sheets from theirrespective decks, each of said stop fences comprising a rotatable shafthaving a longitudinally-extending flange, the stop being in operativeblocking position when the flange is substantially vertical, afence-operating arm on each stop fence extending beyond the ends of saidoff-bearing section decks, means on said tipple for engaging the arm forthe stop fence for the bottom deck of said off-bearing section when saidtipple moves down into registration with said last mentioned deck, anoperative element on said tipple capable of engaging the arms for theother stop fences on said other decks of said off-bearing section whensaid triple moves into registration with said other decks respectivelyand when said element is moved into operative position, and means onsaid tipple for automatically operating said element.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 with the means for operatingsaid element on said tipple controlled by said control assembly.

5. In a device of the character described for handling and transferringsheets of material, including a multiple deck dryer and cooler havingdrivenfeed rolls and a multiple deck off-bearing assembly, a conveyortipple having a receiving end movable into registry with the dischargingends of the decks of the off-bearing assembly, means for moving saidreceiving end of said tipple up and down intermittently and for bringingsaid tipple end into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, a control assembly automatically governing theoperation of said means, said control assembly connected with andactuated by the driven feed rolls on the dryer and cooler, whereby theoperation of said tipple is automatically governed with respect to thespeed of operation of said dryer and cooler, a stop fence at thedischarging end of each deck of said off-bearing assembly, said fencesin normal blocking position restraining the discharge of sheets from 10their respective decks, means carried by said tipple for moving saidfences to inoperative releasing position as said receiving end of saidtipple is brought into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively,

' pinch wheels on said receiving end of said tipple, and

means on said tipple automatically moving said pinch wheels intooperative position whenever said tipple is brought into registrationwith said decks of said offbearing section respectively, pinch wheels onsaid receiving end of said tipple, and means on said tippleautomatically moving said pinch wheels into operative position wheneversaid tipple is brought into registration with a deck on said off-bearingsection.

6. In a device of the character described for handling and transferringsheets of material, including a multiple deck dryer and cooler havingdriven feed rolls and a multiple deck off-bearing assembly, a conveyortipple having a receiving end movable into registry with the dischargingends of the decks of the off-bearing assembly, means for moving saidreceiving end of said tipple up and down intermittently and for bringingsaid tipple end into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, a control assembly automatically governing theoperation of said means, said control assembly connected with andactuated by the driven feed rolls on the dryer and cooler, whereby theoperation of said tipple is automatically governed with respect to thespeed of operation of said dryer and cooler, a stop fence at thedischarging end of each deck of said off-bearing assembly, said fencesin normal blocking position restraining the discharge of sheets fromtheir respective decks, means carried by the tipple for moving saidfences to inoperative releasing position as said receiving end of saidtipple is brought into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, pinch wheels and a stop fence on said receivingend of said tipple, and means on said tipple controlled by said controlassembly for moving said pinch Wheels into operative position andsimultaneously moving said latter mentioned stop fence into inoperativeposition whenever said tipple is brought into registration with a deckon said off-bearing section.

7. In a device of the character described for handling and transferringsheets of material, including a multiple deck dryer and cooler havingdriven feed rolls and a multiple deck ofi-bearing assembly, a conveyortipple having a receiving end movable into registry with the dischargingends of the decks of the off-bearing assembly, means for moving saidreceiving end of said tipple up and down intermittently and for bringingsaid tipple end into registration with said decks of said off-bearingsection respectively, a control assembly automatically governing theoperation of said means, said control assembly connected with andactuated by the driven feed rolls on the dryer and cooler, whereby theoperation of said tipple is automatically governed with respect to thespeed of operation of said dryer and cooler, adjustable elements in saidcontrol assembly for adjusting the relative speed of said tipple withrespect to said dryer and cooler to accommodate sheets of variouslengths, a stop fence at the discharging end of each deck of saidoff-bearing assembly, said fences in normal blocking positionrestraining the discharge of sheets from their respective decks, each ofsaid stop fences comprising a rotatable shaft having alongitudinallyextending flange, the stop fence being in operativeblocking position when the flange is substantially vertical, springmeans connected with each stop fence normally holding the fence inoperative position, a fence-operating arm on each stop fence extendingbeyond the ends of said offbearing section decks, means on said tippleengaging the arm for the stop fence for the bottom deck of saidolfbearing section when said tipple moves down into registration withsaid last mentioned deck, an operative element on said tipple capable ofengaging the arms for the other stop fences on said off-bearing sectionwhen said tipple moves into registration with the respective deck andsaid element 1 1 i 12 is moved into operative position, means controlledby said Whenever said tipple is brought into registration With a controlassembly for operating said element, pinch wheels deck on saidoff-bearing sectlon.

and a stop fence on said receiving end of said tipple, and ReferencesCited in the file of this patent means on said tipple for automaticallymoving said pinch wheels into operative position and simultaneouslymoving 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS said latter mentioned stop fence intoinoperative position 1,809,456 Streeter June 9, 1931

